Limited Monarchy: Definition, History and How Much Power Monarchs Keep
Limited monarchy explained: what it means, how it grew from Magna Carta to modern constitutions, the difference between parliamentary and executive forms, and examples from the UK, Sweden, Liechtenstein and Bhutan.
Last updated September 2026
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A limited monarchy is a monarchy in which the law restricts the monarch's power. A constitution, a parliament, or both set the limits. The monarch cannot rule by will alone.
It is the opposite of absolute monarchy. It is by far the most common form today. This page defines the term and traces how limited monarchy grew. It also shows how much power monarchs keep in different countries.
TL;DR: In a limited monarchy, a constitution, laws or an elected parliament restrict what the monarch can do. The idea grew from Magna Carta (1215) and England's Bill of Rights (1689). Most of the world's monarchies are now limited. In some, such as Sweden and Japan, the monarch has no political power. In others, such as Liechtenstein and Jordan, the monarch keeps real power.
What a limited monarchy is
Britannica describes constitutional monarchy as a system in which the monarch shares power with a government set up by a constitution. The monarch may be the real head of state or a purely ceremonial one. The key point is that the limits on the monarch's power come from outside the monarch's own will.
Limits usually come in three forms.
- A constitution, written or unwritten, that sets out what the monarch may and may not do.
- A legislature that makes laws and controls taxes.
- Courts that apply the law, sometimes to the government itself.
Most sources use "limited monarchy" and "constitutional monarchy" to mean almost the same thing. The first term stresses the limits. The second stresses the constitution that sets them.
How limited monarchy developed
| Year | Country | Step |
|---|---|---|
| 1215 | England | Magna Carta binds the king to certain legal limits |
| 1689 | England | Bill of Rights requires Parliament's consent for taxes and a peacetime army |
| 1809 | Sweden | New Instrument of Government divides power between king and Riksdag |
| 1814 | Norway | Eidsvoll constitution, still in force, limits the king |
| 1831 | Belgium | Constitution creates a monarchy bound by parliament from the start |
| 1849 | Denmark | Constitution ends absolute rule under the King Law |
| 1947 | Japan | Post-war constitution makes the emperor "the symbol of the State" |
| 1974 | Sweden | New Instrument of Government removes the king's remaining political role |
| 1978 | Spain | Constitution defines Spain as a parliamentary monarchy |
| 2008 | Bhutan | First written constitution turns an absolute into a limited monarchy |
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England's path is traced in more detail on the Britain's monarchy page.
Norway and Japan: two paths to limits
Norway, 1814
Norway's constitution was adopted at Eidsvoll on 17 May 1814. It is the oldest written constitution in Europe still in force. From the start it gave the king only the power to delay laws. If three parliaments in a row passed the same bill, it became law without his assent. Ministers began to answer to the Storting, not the king, in 1884.
Japan, 1889 and 1947
Japan's Meiji Constitution of 1889 made the emperor sovereign. But he had to act with ministers and an elected Diet. In practice, army and civilian elites ruled in his name.
After the Second World War, the 1947 constitution gave sovereignty to the people. The emperor became "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". He has no powers related to government.
Spain, 1978
Spain adopted its 1978 constitution after Franco's rule ended. It states that "the political form of the Spanish State is the parliamentary monarchy". The King is head of state and "the symbol of its unity and permanence".
He signs laws. He names the prime minister after parliament votes. But he acts on the government's proposals. Spain is a clear case of a limited monarchy made in modern times.
Two kinds of limited monarchy
Not all limited monarchs are equally limited. Political scientists often split the form in two.
| Form | Monarch's role | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary monarchy | Head of state only; acts on ministers' advice | United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Japan |
| Executive (or semi-constitutional) monarchy | Keeps real powers alongside a parliament | Liechtenstein, Monaco, Jordan, Morocco, Bhutan |
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In the first group the monarch is largely ceremonial, as the ceremonial monarch page explains. In the second, the monarch may appoint and dismiss governments. He may veto laws or direct foreign and military policy.
Three limited monarchies compared
Sweden: the most limited
Sweden's 1974 Instrument of Government begins: "All public power in Sweden proceeds from the people." The king is head of state. But he takes no part in forming governments, and he does not sign laws. Those roles belong to the Speaker of the Riksdag and the government.
Liechtenstein: a powerful prince
Reigning Prince of Liechtenstein.
Status: Reviewed.
Note: The princely house calls Liechtenstein a constitutional hereditary monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis. The people are a second sovereign. Every law needs the Reigning Prince's assent to be valid. If he does not sign a law within six months, it counts as refused. A 2003 referendum on the constitution confirmed these powers.
Sources: The Princely House of Liechtenstein, "Rights and Duties of the Reigning Prince"; The Princely House of Liechtenstein, "The Liechtenstein Constitution".
Bhutan: a king who must retire
Bhutan's kings ruled with wide powers until the country adopted a written constitution in 2008. The constitution keeps the king as head of state. But it limits the office in unusual ways.
At 65, the king must step down in favour of the heir, if the heir is of age. Parliament can also start a process to make the king give up the throne. It ends in a national vote.
Limited monarchy vs absolute monarchy
| Point | Limited monarchy | Absolute monarchy |
|---|---|---|
| Who makes laws | A legislature, usually elected | The monarch, often by decree |
| Who runs the government | Ministers answerable to the legislature | Ministers answerable to the monarch |
| Can courts check the ruler | Yes, under the constitution | Not in practice |
| Examples today | UK, Japan, Spain, Sweden | Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini |
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For the other side of the story, see the absolute rulers page.
England's crown was limited step by step, from Magna Carta on. Our guide to the best books about the royal family traces that story reign by reign.
Verdict: what a limited monarchy means today
A limited monarchy is any monarchy in which the law, not the monarch's will, has the final word. Most monarchies are now limited, but the range is wide. The Swedish king has no political power.
The Prince of Liechtenstein can block laws. Bhutan's king must retire at 65. For the wider picture of monarchy today, see the monarchy hub.
Sources checked for this page
- Britannica, "Constitutional monarchy"
- Sveriges riksdag, The Instrument of Government (1974:152)
- The Princely House of Liechtenstein, "Rights and Duties of the Reigning Prince"
- Constitute Project, Bhutan's Constitution of 2008
- La Moncloa, Spanish Constitution, Part II: The Crown
- The Constitution Society, "The Monarchy"
- Stortinget, "The Constitution of 17 May 1814"
- Japanese Law Translation (Ministry of Justice), "The Constitution of Japan"
Questions people also ask
What is a limited monarchy?
A monarchy in which the monarch's powers are restricted by a constitution, by law or by an elected legislature, rather than being unlimited.
Is a limited monarchy the same as a constitutional monarchy?
They are usually treated as the same thing. 'Constitutional monarchy' stresses the written or unwritten constitution that sets the limits; 'limited monarchy' stresses the limits themselves.
What is an example of a limited monarchy?
The United Kingdom, where the monarch reigns but Parliament makes the laws. Sweden, Norway, Japan, Spain and Belgium are other examples.
Which limited monarchy gives the monarch the most power?
Liechtenstein is often cited. Its Reigning Prince must approve every law, and a law he does not sanction within six months is treated as refused.
When did England become a limited monarchy?
The process was gradual. Magna Carta in 1215 set early limits, but historians usually date the decisive step to the Bill of Rights of 1689, which required Parliament's consent for taxes and a peacetime army.
Does a limited monarch have any real power?
It depends on the country. In Sweden and Japan the monarch has none. In Liechtenstein, Monaco, Jordan and Morocco, the monarch keeps important powers alongside parliament.